SWAT, Oct 28 (APP): Federal Minister for Science & Technology Rana
Tanveer Hussain has said that the government was leaving no stone unturned to create employment opportunities for the skilled youth of the country in order to keep them away from becoming a tool in the hands of the terrorists.
He was addressing the local stakeholders gathered for a one day seminar and exhibition on “Role of PCSIR for Technology Development and its impact on National Economy” here on Friday.
Pakistan is blessed with innumerable natural resources and with a
considerable value addition to our raw material; we can definitely increase our exports. This in turn will help raise our life standards and provide employment opportunities to the skillful youth, he said.
Swat is blessed with world-class fruits, invaluable medicinal herbs, gem
stones and marble. Only a little support from the government will put things in a streamlined process, hence helping the Swat people in regaining their original stature of flourishing tourism and other industries.
Addressing the audience, Brigadier Zafar Iqbal informed that Swat alone
produced 35000 tons of peaches, 80,000 ton apples and 40,000 ton persimmon (Japanese Fruit) but was not able to approach the international market because of lack of training and knowledge of export quality and preservation.
He emphasized that a skillful youth who is able to earn for his family
will never fall prey to the terrorists. An employed and progressive Swat is directly in favor of a stable Pakistan in terms of finance as well as improving life standards.
Chairman PCSIR Dr. Shahzad Alam announced free training opportunities to be provided by his organization to the local industrialists. He also offered to provide formulation technology for value addition to the local fruits and herbs for generating considerable amount of foreign exchequer.
He told that polishing and cutting of marble, granite, precious stone,
processed food, medicinal herbal products etc are the areas that PCSIR will focus for training. He insisted that the stakeholders should join the 6 month free training course that PCSIR is starting from December 2016.
He appreciated the role of Pakistan Army in restoring peace in this
region and the sacrifices that the locals have made to curb the hold of the terrorists who hijacked the innocent people in the name of religion.
The President of Swat Chamber of Commerce Hamid Ur Rehman said
that there is need to repair local roads. Their deplorable condition has
resulted in downfall of tourism industry. He requested the Federal Minister for Science & Technology to help them restore the local tourism industry by repairing the road to Kalam.
President Swat Hotel Association, Haji Zahid also appealed for the
restoration of tourism by repairing the roads of this area. He was of the view that due to bad traveling conditions, the rate of tourists coming to this area has dropped considerably.
This has caused a huge set back to the local hotel industry and overall market.
Swat people used to earn huge revenue through these positive activities.
He also announced to give land to PCSIR for building a facilitation center in Swat.